The figures are contained in documents published by the Department of the Taoiseach and others provided by Minister's Howlin's former Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

They show that air fares for Minister Kehoe and his private secretary cost €2,847.51 and €2,772.51 respectively for a return journey from Dublin to Philadelphia and Savannah, in Georgia, between March 12 and 18, a visit which took place alongside that of a county council delegation to promote County Wexford.

A business dinner hosted by Minister Kehoe cost €434.56.

Part of his US trip included a St Patrick's Day visit from Philadelphia to New York, with that flight costing €371.05. Flights from New York to Savannah for Minister Kehoe and his private secretary cost a total of €693.33

The rest of the €7,234.55 in foreign travel costs over the two months was made up of taxi costs in Philadelphia. Hotel costs are not included in the published figures.

Then Minister Howlin's St Patrick's Day visit to India, his only foreign trip during 2016, cost €2,189 in air fares, €564 in hotel accommodation in New Delhi and €350 in Mumbai, plus 'other' expenses of €175.